ASOG-EXECED CONDUCTS ONLINE TRAINING ON CREATING CLEANER AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY-BASED ENERGY SOURCE
December 18, 2020
|
The Ateneo School of Government Executive Education Program (ASOG-ExecEd), with funding from the European Union through the Access to Sustainable Energy Programme-Clean Energy Living Laboratories (ASEP-CELLs) Project, recently held a short online training course titled “Energy Planning: Creating Cleaner and Sustainable Community-Based Energy Source.” The training ran from December 8 to 14, 2020, and was participated by 25 officials from local government units across the county, national government agencies, and members of the academe.
  In her opening remarks, Ms. Sharon Yabut, head of the ASOG-ExecEd, highlighted the need for LGUs to contribute in leading changes to energy efficiency and lifestyles among the energy constituents and to become champions of renewable energy as mandated by RA 11285 or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act. To this end, this training was designed to equip LGU officials and technical staff with the skills, knowledge and abilities to undertake a baseline assessment of their present energy access and future demands while ensuring clean and sustainable energy options. Participants were trained to evaluate and determine sustainable, cost-effective and climate-friendly energy sources, and assist their respective LGUs in making informed judgements on the affordability, accessibility, sustainability, and financial viability of energy programs and projects. Moreover, participants were capacitated to develop, formulate, submit, and present a community-based Local Energy Efficiency Conservation Plan (LEECP) as a final output of the course. This training has four modules: (1) Understanding the Need for Local Sustainable Energy; (2) Cost-Benefit of Sustainable Energy; (3) Analysis and Evaluation of Clean Energy; and (4) Making It Happen: Formulation of LEECP. These were implemented using a variety of self-paced learning materials (asynchronous) through Google Classroom, and live interaction with subject matter experts (synchronous) through Zoom Virtual Communications. Learning materials, such as video lectures and readings, were distributed participants to supplement the group reports and outputs of the live sessions. The synchronous session for Module 1 (Understanding the Need for Local Sustainable Energy) was held on December 08, 2020, and facilitated by Mr. Michael Sinocruz, the Chief of the Planning Division of the Energy Policy and Planning Bureau of the Philippine Department of Energy. The purpose of this module was to present to the participants the process and the framework used in the local energy planning of Palawan LGU, which participants can adopt in their respective LGU’s local energy planning. Mr. Sinocruz discussed how LGUs can prepare for imbibing renewable and sustainable energy, and what resources are needed.  Meanwhile, Mr. Jose Rafael “Ping” Mendoza, Country Manager of Climate Capital Management, facilitated the synchronous session for Module 2 (Cost-Benefit of Sustainable Energy) on December 09, 2020. For this session, Mr. Mendoza began by discussing the Philippine Power Situation and the different local energy condition, and proceeded to present how acceptable costs and desired benefits of sustainable energy are analyzed. Participants interpreted their local utility bills through a savings calculator, assessed electricity costs in their area, and discussed the viability of Rooftop Solar energy systems.  For the synchronous session of module 3 (Analysis and Evaluation of Clean Energy), Mr. Michael Lochinvar Sim Abundo, Programme Manager at the Nanyang Technological University, discussed some important concepts and introduced to participants useful frameworks such as PESTLE Analysis. Mr. Abundo facilitated a series of small breakout activities where participants are equipped with online tools to draft a proposal for a potential program to rollout solar renewable energy, and to apply the PESTLE Analysis to assess and evaluate the following projects which may be used in their respective LGUs: Renewable Energy Project, Green Building Projects, Electric Vehicles, Other End-Use Services, and Disaster Preparedness.  Lastly, for Module 4 (Making It Happen: Formulation of LEECP), ASOG’s Professor on Health Financing and Governance Innovation report writing, Prof. Manolito “Chito” Novales emphasized the mandate of LGUs in providing an enabling environment for good governance and the importance of LGU Planning, which influences public and private investments which make goods and services more accessible to the public. Prof. Novales, facilitated small breakout groups where participants exercised stakeholder analysis, social marketing, and other tools in the formulation and communication of the participant’s respective LEECPs.  The training session was capped off on December 14, 2020 by presentations from the participants. Each LGU was given the opportunity to present their final outputs for the training course. Experts joined in to give their comments and to guide participants in further improving their work for it to be implemented in their respective LGUs. Participants were also given an opportunity to express their experience and insights upon completion of the course. Ms. Celestina “Tina” T. Chan from LGU Vigan, highlighted how she learned a lot of things and tools for energy planning with the aid of experienced and competent advisers and resource persons. She described the course as “not only an opportunity for further learning, but also a place to gain new friends and improve the relationship with co-planners and movers.” Similarly, Ms. Elvisa Bong “Bing” Mabelin from LGU Cagayan De Oro expressed how the training course provided opportunities to think, learn, and plan what is best for their city, and contribute to energy efficiency and conservation. She summarized her learnings into three Cs: compliance, collaboration, and commitment. Ms. Myka “Myks” Villaflor Poblete, meanwhile thanks her co-participants, Resource Persons, and ASOG for conducting the training, describing it as “informative, well-organized, and well-conducted.” Finally, Ms. Ariza Francisco, Luzon Cells Coordinator from ASOG thanks and congratulates participants, and all Resource Persons, who guided the training, gave insightful comments and feedback to presentations of participants in her closing message. She expressed her hope that through this training participants were able to gain technical skills and knowledge to carry on and ensure effective energy planning in their respective LGUs, “to ensure access to clean energy, reducing greenhouse emissions, enhancing health and social wellbeing, and minimizing energy inequalities in local communities.” Ms. Cecil Benavides, Project Manager of ASEP CELLS PMO also thanks all participants for active participation during the training course. She also expressed her hope that LGU officials lobby for the use of the plans that they have crafted, and move forward to institutionalizing these in their respective LGUs. To formally cap off the course, a simple online awarding ceremony for all successful participants was held. The ASoG-ExecEd has other training programs in the pipeline. The unit also does customized courses for your specific organization’s needs. To know more about our capacity development programs, please reach us through the email address execed.asog@ateneo.edu |
